Police still hunting
Shafilea’s killer
by David Skentelbery
ALMOST 12 months on from when police confirmed that a body found in a river in Cumbria was that of Warrington teenager Shafilea Ahmed, the hunt for her killer continues.
Police say a team of detectives is still following all possible lines of enquiry and that the case is still very much “alive.”
Eight people – mostly members of the tragic 17-year-old’s extended family – who were questioned in connection with an alleged attempt to pervert the course of justice, are due to surrender to bail on February 25.
A bilingual hotline – in Urdu and English – has been set up in case anyone has information they wish to give to the police in confidence. The freephone number is 0800 458 9701.
Alternatively informants can speak to an officer in the murder hunt incident room on 01244 615835.
It is now 17 months since Shafilea disappeared from her home in Liverpool Road, Great Sankey.
Her badly decomposed body was discovered at Sedgwick, near Kendal in Cumbria. But it was not until February last year that her body was identified. The cause of her death has never been established.
But police are satisfied she was murdered – in fact they were convinced within days of her disappearance that she had been unlawfully killed.
In February, 2003, she had visited Pakistan for a family wedding and, it is understood, was introduced to a would-be suitor. She is believed to have turned him down and, while still abroad, apparently swallowed bleach as a protest. This seriously damaged her throat.
Police have revealed they had found poems or song lyrics written by Shafilea which spoke of her bringing “shame” on her family and wishing she were dead.
Shafilea’s parents – who were at one stage arrested on suspicion of being involved in kidnapping their daughter but were later released – have put up a reward of ?5,000 for information leading to the arrest of the killer.
They have strenuously denied any involvement in her disappearance or death.
Det Chief Inspector Geraint Jones, who is leading the inquiry, said: “The inquiry is still very much active and if there is anyone who, for whatever reason, has not yet come forward with information which may help us, we would urge them to contact us immediately.”
Students’ attendance awards
STUDENTS with good attendance records at Priestley College, Warrington have been rewarded for their commitment to study.
Having counted and verified the numbers, some 393 students had attendance figures of 95 per cent or over and 62 of those students notching an impressive 100 per cent record.
The college is keen to emphasise the importance of high attendance to student – because it usually correlates with strong academic performance.
During the award ceremony vice principal Matthew Grant took the opportunity to talk to students about module result assignments in March and to emphasise the importance of punctuality and attendance to good achievement in final assessments and examinations.
On the prize front student Lee Meakin was lucky when his name was drawn out of a hat to win ?200 in Argos gift vouchers.
Other prizes included a signed Warrington Wolves rugby league ball, gym passes, DVD players, CD players and stereo equipment.
Man, 45, attacked
by gang of youths
by John Hendon
A MAN was set on by a gang of youths armed with pieces of wood and piping as he walked home around midnight.
The attack took place in Norreys Avenue, Bewsey, Warrington, near its junction with Lilford Avenue.
Police said a 45-year-old man was approached by a gang of eight youths who attacked him with pieces of wood and piping. The youths were wearing scarves or hoods over their faces.
Their victim was taken to hospital with head injuries.
Later he was able to give a description of one of the attackers – a stocky youth about 5ft 6 inches tall with short blond hair. He was wearing a brown leather jacket and jeans.
Anyone who saw the attack or who has information about the offenders is asked to call PC Chris Davies on 01925 652222.
Planners think twice
about flats scheme
by David Skentelbery
PLANNING bosses have put off a decision on a controversial plan to convert one of Warrington’s landmark historic buildings into flats.
Members of the borough council’s development control committee decided they wanted to visit the site of the old Cheshire Lines railway warehouse, off Winwick Street, before reaching a decision.
They heard 21 residents have written letters of objection and 36 had signed a protest petition opposing conversion plans for the building.
English Heritage has also expressed concern about proposals – forming part of the same application – for new seven storey tower blocks which, they claim, will obscure the Grade 2 listed warehouse.
Residents of St Peter’s Way claim their homes will be overshadowed by the tower blocks, some of which will be built next to bungalows.
They say they will suffer a loss of privacy and that the new blocks will restrict views of the Cheshire Lines building.
They are concerned about the flat-roofed design of the blocks, which will be in a conservation area and next to a listed building and they say there will be increased noise, air pollution and traffic.
The Cheshire Lines warehouse dates from the 1870s and has been standing empty for years.
English Heritage have previously designated it as a building “at risk” due to its deteriorating condition. They support the proposals to convert the warehouse, subject to repair work being satisfactory.
But two of the proposed new blocks would obscure the view of the listed building and they suggest they should be reduced in size or removed from the plan.
Planners say they have no objections to the scheme in principle but accept that it will have some impact on views from properties on St Peter’s Way, but not sufficiently to justify refusing the scheme.
“Wild horses couldn’t
drag them…!”
by Lesley Wilkinson
WILD horses dragged South Warrington’s Community Support Offices around Appleton, when the animals escaped.
Community Support Officer Paul Birch told Appleton Parish Council that two horses were found wandering the streets, and were taken for temporary shelter to a stables in Walton, until the owner was traced.
CSO Pete Crelland said the animals were spotted on London Road at about 3pm, and later on Broomfields Road playing field and at the rugby field in Bridge Lane.
“We eventually caught them, and had to walk them to Walton,” he added.
Five hurt in
motorway crash
by staff reporter
FIVE people were taken to hospital at Warrington early today (Friday) after a people carrier careered off the M62 motorway at Croft.
A number of people were thrown from the vehicle as it collided with street furniture.
Three women were detained in hospital although none of their injuries were thought to be life-threatening.
The accident happened on the east-bound carriageway of the motorway and police are seeking witnesses. Anyone who can help should call PC John Forder of the Cheshire Police Motorway Unit on 0845 4580000.
No other vehicle was involved.
Police said a man was arrested after the incident and is being questioned.
Police in hunt
for “flasher”
by staff reporter
POLICE are hunting for a “flasher” who exposed himself to two schoolgirls as they walked through a Warrington park.
The man, aged between 20-30, tried to engage the girls in conversation as they walked towards Padgate through Woolston Linear Park.
He then exposed himself – but the girls “told him off” and continued on their way. Later, one of their father’s returned to the park to try and find the offender, but he had gone.
Police say the man was of medium height and short black or dark br
own hair. He was wearing a blue waterproof jacket and blue or black tracksuit bottoms.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact PC Graham Elliott on 01925 652222.
